Published: Monday, September 30, 2013 at 06:20 PM.

“We feel like we survived the economic crunch,” Peterman said. “Our employees did a great job is what it boils down to.”

The city tightened up on everything, Peterman says, not replacing employees as they retired, not repaving streets, not replacing water lines, and also not laying off employees.

That is one of the things Peterman is watching in this coming term. Five years cutting back on infrastructure upkeep means there is a lot of work to do in the city and the city will have to start getting that work done.

Peterman says he wants the city to be ready when someone comes to build. He says he wants to make sure there is enough water for an industrial development and enough money in the city’s bank accounts.

“And we are ready,” Peterman said.

Peterman is running against the same challenger he faced in 2011, Tommy Bruton. The last campaign got pretty heated.

“We feel like we survived the economic crunch,” Peterman said. “Our employees did a great job is what it boils down to.”

The city tightened up on everything, Peterman says, not replacing employees as they retired, not repaving streets, not replacing water lines, and also not laying off employees.

That is one of the things Peterman is watching in this coming term. Five years cutting back on infrastructure upkeep means there is a lot of work to do in the city and the city will have to start getting that work done.

Peterman says he wants the city to be ready when someone comes to build. He says he wants to make sure there is enough water for an industrial development and enough money in the city’s bank accounts.

“And we are ready,” Peterman said.

Peterman is running against the same challenger he faced in 2011, Tommy Bruton. The last campaign got pretty heated.

Beginning in 2005, Graham started directly electing its mayors after 50 years of having the city council vote one of its own into the job. The advantage, Peterman says, is not having to answer to the rest of the council to keep the job. The disadvantage is having to run every two years.

There are some bright spots on the horizon for Graham, Peterman says, with the Oneida mills being rezoned for apartments, and the possibility of 600 jobs between Graham and Mebane if Alamance County wins the Swordfish project.

Even if it does not, Peterman says, someone will eventually develop that land and Graham and Mebane now have an agreement sharing the utilities and tax revenue when the day comes.

“If we can get over this hump,” Peterman said, “we’ll be there.”

Peterman says probably the most common criticism he hears lately is of the city council’s decision not to approve a three-story apartment complex sandwiched between Woody Drive and Williams Streets that would have brought more taxes into the city’s coffers. But the neighbors hated it.

“A lot of people said, ‘It’s money in the bank,’” Peterman said, “but they didn’t go to that meeting, they didn’t hear the 30 people who didn’t want a three story apartment looking down on their patio.”

As important as the city’s finances are, Peterman says, approving a change just for the money would not be a good decision.

If there is one thing Peterman says he wants the voters to know about him it is that he is available.

“If they have a problem,” Peterman said, “they know how to find me”

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Name: Jerry Peterman

Age: 64

Family: Married to Jan Peterman 38 years, one son Jeremy Peterman who lives in Mesa, Ariz.

Political hero: “I haven't been very political in my lifetime, but the person that has been a great influence and inspiration to me is Mrs. Carrie Thompson. She has been a business leader in Graham as well as the first lady to be elected to the Graham City Council. She was later appointed to the council to finish the term of Mayor Hassell Andrews and performed her duties with grace and skill.”